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Hi,

Well the slotted metal ones are the best regarding backlash but have a limited error of alignment allowance and do break if you fatigue them to much! the flexible jaw type with an insert are...

Here is a YouTube link to the whole rebuild condensed into 10minutes:

https://youtu.be/gk-EpXEnTgc?si=PUR2XCp-rGPtyo4a

Hi Muzzer,
The video isn't a backlash test, it's just for tuning the top rapid speeds and getting a better idea of the machine's limits. The original machine was capable of 2500 mm/min rapid rates....

OK a bit of an update, after a lot of looking I eventually found the GT2 or 2GT belts are not only a close match to the originals but also stronger than the originals. This did of course mean...

Well lets hope it does not need quite as much work as my machine did! I would recommend UCCNC UC300ETH it works very well and has lots of inputs and outputs, it also can run using both Mach3 and...

First problem, and I don't even have the main body of the machine home yet!

As I said the stepper motors are really nice disc armature ESCAP motors but they are connected to the 16mm ball screws...

OK, here we go again. You may have seen my last rebuild of a Boxford VMC260 (https://www.mycncuk.com/threads/15971-Boxford-260-VMC-rebuild). I thought that would be my final one, but while browsing...

Thank you Lee for your kinds words, its nice to be able to share the results and I just hope it encourages others to have a go. I am trying to work up the enthusiasm to start work on the spindle as...

Thank you for your kind comments, I did do a bit more while I was distracted from my main project (Fairbanks Morse 15hp Model N )...

Due to the cramped nature of my workshop, I decided to assemble the machine in situ. After manhandling the lighter VMC 190 out the door, I brought in the main cabinet body and rear section and got...

I used Rust-oleum hard hat top coat, it is fantastic paint. I was originally going to get the cabinet shot blasted and powered coated, but quotes seemed a bit crazy so rattle cans it was. The...

Thanks Lee, I have had a bit of experience but never had to do so much to a machine. The last was a Boxford 240 CNC lathe but it was in pretty good condition so just needed all the electrics and...

Well, folks, It's there—just a few odds and sods left to sort: reassembly, wiring, setup, cobbling together a 4th axis, and the small matter of squeezing this beast into my gloriously cluttered...

With the rogue ball screws sorted and the wonky tooling tamed, I turned my attention to the control panel. The old one was a sorry sight—rusty and bearing scars from what looked like a minor...

OK will retry posting some of the images as they seem to not show in my previous post.

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Above cross section of the spindle showing the Nilos ring (yellow) and spindle nose cover

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...

Yes you are correct about wear and oversized balls, I think the thing is with tiny ball screws the balls seem to wear first as I guess the load is less evenly spread on the balls, so was worth a try...

Well, the spindle was a right faff, but the ball screws? No surprise there. These VMC 260s have a bit of a reputation for knackered ball screws. They’re 14mm with a 2.5mm pitch, and to top it off,...

Right, if you’re thinking of picking up one of these mills, there are two key things to check before you part with your hard-earned cash:
Is the spindle running true? (Mine, er, wasn’t.)

How much...

So pretty much after checking all the parts I decided to rebuild the 260, I was originally going to scrap the cabinet as it was rusty inside and out, and also made machine pretty large for my...

The first thing to do was strip down and see what needed doing. The bed ways and head come off pretty easy and most of the rust was on the surface only, The ball screws seemed OK but felt very...

Hello All,

This is a bit of an introduction and hopefully some of the information and pictures may help others faced with a Boxford CNC mill rebuild or update. First an introduction, I am a UK...